Method and means of producing wholly integral cold wrought t&#39;s and like fittings



m\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\w m3 YIIIIIIIIIIII E. s. CORNELL, JR v METHOD ANDHEARS OF PRODUCING WHOLLY INTEGRAL COLD WROUGHT TEES AND LIKE FITTINGSFiled Feb. 14, 1936 April 15, 1941.

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m H I I u A III/IIIIIIIIII/II/IllhVIIIIIII/II/I/I/I/II/I AIll/III/I/l/IIIIIIIIIIIII/IIIII Patented Apr. 15, 1941 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE METHOD AND MEANS OF PRODUCING 'WBOLLY INTEGRAL COLDWROUGHT T'SANDLIKEFITTINGS My present invention relates to theproduction of fittings, such as T's, Y's, X's or other types oflateral-provided fittings by cold working to final status.

Preferably, copper is employed as the material which is subjected tocold working. By copper I include commercially pure copper, alloyspredominately of copper content, and other metals or the like whichunder condition of heat supplied additiveiy to the heat ensuing undertreatment, give rise to the formation of cuprous oxide or otherdeleterant, usually of oxidized character, defeating the successfulproduction of fittings or the like, but when cold worked pursuant to myinvention-and in the absence of supplied heat the above stated fittingsare successfully produced.

Generically, my invention comprises the cold working of an initial massof the material, predetermined in its cubical content in correspondenceto the cubical content of the resultant fitting, the treatmentcomprising a suitable die or equivalent suitably apertured to receivesuch initial mass and to effect contoural, dimensional and othercharacteristics desired 01? the resultant product, correlated with ahollow mandrel provided with a lateral determinative orifice andsuitable male die members, such as hollow punches, or equivalent,whereby upon combined endwise bodily pressure and fluid pressureinternally of the mass, one or more laterals and the body per se and theend openings of the body, having the desired characteristics, areproduced.

Products of my invention are characterized by the body proper, endportions of the body, one or more laterals, individually integral andintegral with one another without joint.

Products of my invention are further characterized by the cold workingeffects upon the copper mass ensuing in and by the successive steps ofmy method, including, inter alia, dense grain structure, high tensilestrength, high degree of hardness, immunity against chemical or othercorrosive eifects in the presence of water in domestic supply lines, hotwater, steam and other heating medium lines, oil and other transmissionlines, and like and other forms and types of fluid conveyance.

By my method the product consists of copper work-hardened throughout toform an article of uniform strength and other superior characteris ticsto aiford comparative lightness and to enable a lesser total material tobe employed.

Further features and objects of my invention will be more fullyunderstood from the following 55 detail description and the accompanyingdrawing, in which Fig. 1 is a central vertical sectional view of a Tproduct of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view of a length of initialmass, in the form of a tube, associated with a hollow mandrel providedwith a lateral determinative orifice.

Fig. 3 is a central sectional view through a die block provided witheffective cavities corresponding to the product, in this instance a T,and the positioning therein of the initial tube and hollow mandrel shownin Fig. 2, and cooperating hollow fluid-operative punches. Fig. 3 showsthe assembly of the stated parts at an initial stage in carrying out mymethod.

Fig. 4 is a central sectional view corresponding to that of Fig. 3, butillustrating a succeeding stage of operation of my method.

20 Fig. 5 is a central sectional view showing a stage of treatment of aT-formed product resulting from the treatment indicated in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a central sectional view, corresponding to the view shown inFig, 4, illustrating another embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 7 is a central sectional View, corresponding to the view of Fig. 5,illustrating the severing of a terminal formation of the lateral.

As above indicated, and as appears from the characteristics of theinvention, the steps and sequence of steps shown in the respective fig--ures of the drawing, depicting my method in its application to theproduction of a T, are illustrative of the production of all types orfittings provided with one or more laterals and of variant relation ofaxis, diameter, wall thickness and contour, etc., of any lateral to theaxes, diameters, wall thicknesses and contours, etc., oi. the body perse and of the respective end openings in the run, i. e., communicatingwith the longitudinal passage of the body at its opposite ends.

Thus for the formation of a T, such as the T Ill shown in Fig. 1, thedetail parts of which are more fully described hereinafter, an initialmass ll, preferably imperrorate from end to end, see

Figs. 2 and 3, having a cubical content corresponding to the cubicalcontent of the resultant T It, is placed about a mandrel l2 suitablycorrelated therewith. Essentials of such tubular initial mass II and thecorrelation thereof with the mandrel l2 are, inter alia, an innerdiameter of the tubular mass ll relative to the outer diameter of thehollow mandrel i2, to have a fluidseal fit therewith, an outer diameterof the tubular mass with respect to the diameter of the eflectivelongitudinal cavity of the die to place the wall of the tubular mass incontact with the wall of the die, and a length of tubular mass toprovide for the ultimate cubical content of the walls of the fittingwith minimum wastage.

Correlated with the aforesaid, I provide a suitable die I3, embodying,inter alia, an entrance bore Iia corresponding in diameter or othercross section to the diameter or other. cross section of the right handend portion of the initial mass, i. e., the tubular mass II, and furtherembodying an entrance bore I3b corresponding in diameter or other crosssection to the diameter or other cross section of the left hand endportion of the tubular mass II; further, a lateral defining cavity I30,in this instance, shown as an open ended cavity, corresponding inconfiguration to the configuration desired of the lateral of theresulting product, in this instance, a single lateral Illa of such T asshown in Fig. 1.

The angular relationship of such lateral defining cavity I3c correspondsto the angular relationship of the axis of the desired lateral to theaxis of the body I01) and of the respective end openings Illc, Illd, ofthe T as shown in Fig. 1.

Such female die I3 is advantageously of the .split type, usually of twoparts, the respective parts of the die being suitably secured to oneanother, indicated by the holding pins or equivalent I4, I4.

The hollow mandrel I2 has a wall suitable for withstanding the stressesand strains, as described more fully hereinafter, and is provided witha. lateral determinative orifice I la, in this instance centrallylocated in the wall portion of the hollow mandrel I2 adapted, as isindicated in Fig. 3 and further appearing in Fig. 4, to be positionedcentrally of and in axial alignment with the axis of the lateraldefining cavity I3c, of the female die I3.

Coacting with such mandrel I2, I further providesuitable means foreffecting the desired fluid pressure conjointly with the required bodilypressure applied in opposing directions at the opposing ends of thetubular mass II to efiectuate to the desired extent axially andperipherally, the thereby resulting bulging of the central portion ofthe tubular mass I I disposed in adjacency to the lateral definingcavity I3c of the female die I3.

Such provision of conjoint bodily pressure and fluid pressure means isadvantageously in the form of a hollow punch I 5, shown at the left ofthe assembled parts appearing in Fig. 3, the outer diameter or othercross section of the body I5a of such punch I5 making a fluid-tightsealing fit with the diameter or other cross section of the entrancebore III!) of the die I3. The punch I5 is further provided with a headI5b, in this instance shown closed, adapted for cooperation with alaterally operated ram or equivalent of a press.

Cooperating with such punch I5 I provide a punch I6 shown at the rightin Fig. 3, which is hollow its body Iia and of an outer diameter orother cross section making a fluid-tight seal with the diameter or crosssection of the entrance bore I3a of the die I3. The punch I6 is alsoprovided with a head lib, in this instance shown open, adapted forcooperation with a laterally operated ram or equivalent of a press. Itshead lib in this instance is provided with a perforation IGc, thepurpose of which appears more fully hereinafter. The interior of thepunches l5, I6, and of the mandrel I2, inclusive of its lateraleffecting perforation l2a, is filled with oil II or other suitablefluid, prefer'ably of lubrieating nature.

The supply of fluid and the maintenance of the fluid pressure may becarried out as preferred. Conveniently, the fluid, see Il, Fig. 3, issupplied by injection of such fluid, in predetermined effectivequantity, within the hollow interiors of the mandrel I2 and of theleft-hand punch l5 and of the right-hand punch IS, the opening I6c ofthe perforated punch I6 being closed against egress of the fluids I! bysuitable stopper means.

Such stopper means is advantageously, see Fig. 4, a part or incorporatedwith the ram I 8, such as a protruding lug I8a, making a fluid-sealjoint with the walls of the opening I of the righthand punch I6.

Accordingly, upon operation of the press, effecting mutual approachseearrows I9, 20, Fig. 4 of the respective punches I5, I6, and attendantbodily pressure applied endwise at the opposing ends of the tubularblank I I together with the conjoint building-up and maintenance ofpressure, within a predetermined range, exerted through the lateraldeterminative orifice I2a of the hollow mandrel upon the wall of thetubular blank II, the lateral formation IIa is initiated andprogressively formed, i. e., completed, defined by the walls of thelateral defining ca ity I3c of the female die I3. Preferably, asappears, the hollow mandrel I2 has a length substantially that of orexceeding the original length of the tubular blank, also, its outerannular wall has a substantially uniform diameter and extendsimperforately from end to end, excepting at its lateral determinativeorifice IZa, shown located centrally of its annular wall, in theillustrated instance of the production of a single lateral-providedfitting, i. e., the resulting 1' body I0. Predicated upon the resultsobtained in the production, under commercial conditions, of TS and otherlateral-provided fittings, pursuant to my invention as aforesaid themovement of the lateral formation Ila, effected by cold operation,ensues by the gradual and uniform flow of the metal toward the centralportion, i. e. the portion adjacent the lateral defining die cavity, tosuccessively constitute such central portion of the tubular blank towardand into the lateral defining cavity I 30 of the die l3, the aforesaidbeing facilitated by a fluid of lubricating nature.

Upon completion to the desired extent of the lateral formation Ilawithin the lateral cavity I3c of the female die I3, the work, designatedI0, is removed from the die, and finished as desired.

Assuming the lateral formation II a of the nature as shown in Fig. 4, afinishing step may be the severing of the "dome of the lateral formationIIa, as by means of a rotary knife, indicated diagrammatically at 2|,see Fig. 5.

Additional finishing, subsequent to the severing or equivalent of thelateral, as aforesaid, may be carried out as preferred. To attain theparticular diameter, contour and characteristics of the lateral Illa,the body per se Illb, body end openings Illc, II ld, as depicted in Fig,1, the l tvex and peripherally concave contour, whereby upon operationof the punches II, I, in correlatlon with the mandrel i2 and conjointpressure operation of the fiuid II, the walls' of the lateral formationHo are moreclosely defined by the walls of the die lateral openings Ilaand the "dome, see He, Fig. 6, is contoured for minimum wastage ofmetal.

By such or equivalent procedure, such concavo-convex "dome" lie isremoved, as by severing, as indicated in Fig. 5. The remainder of thefitting is. completed as to its lateral "'41, body per se il'b, and bodyend openings "'0, il'd, as desired.

From the above, it appears that my method provides for the applicationof pressure bodily upon the original, preferably tubular, mass indirection from the respective ends of such mass toward the one or morelateral defining cavities of the female die, conjointly with fluidpressure effective upon the mass in direction toward and into such oneor more lateral defining cavities. In suchconjoint pressure-effectivemovement of the mass toward and into the one or more lateral definingcavities of the female die, and resulting laterals, the hollow mandrel,by reason of its continuation from end to end, i. e., absence ofperforations, excepting for its one or more lateral determinativeorifices, and extending in coordination with the walls of thelongitudinal wrinkling or other collapse-while the material of theoriginal i. e. tubular mass flows toward and into the one or into therespective lateraldefining die cavities, and the walls of the respectiveone or more lateral defining cavities thereupon serve to predeterminethe contour and other dimensional characteristics ofthe one or morelaterals thus formed from such original mass.

The contour and dimensional characteristic of each lateral are asdesired, and controlled by the forces respectively applied bodily and byfluid pressure upon the tubular or other original mass. In thecommercial production of a T or like lateral-provided fitting, thecubical content of the wall of each lateral is preferably in excess ofthe cubical content of the zone of the original mass defined at itsouter boundary by the outer periphery of the lateral and having a wallthickness equal to the wall thickness of the body of the resulting T.The wall thickness, length and contour of the wall of each lateral maybe varied as desired. The cubical content of each lateral in excess ofthe cubical content of its zone, above defined, is predetermined by thebodily pressure applied to the tubular or other original mass conjointlywith and in correlation with the pressure created uniformly in anduniformly exercised through the pressure fluid.

As above indicated, by the successive stages of cold fiow of thematerial of the original mass in direction longitudinally of thelongitudinal cavities of the female die toward the central or otherportion adjacent the location of the desired lateral or laterals andwithin the respective one or more lateral defining cavities, transmutesthe physical characteristics of the material into the superior qualitiesof dense grain structure, high tensile strength, high fractureresistance, elimination of pores, immunity against corrosion or otherchemical action in the presence of natural waters. and other fluidsconveyed in commonly used systems, such as steam and hot water heatingsystems, domestic and industrial water and other fluid supplies, etc.

Whereas I have described my invention by reference to specific formsthereof, it will be understood that many changes and modifications maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. The combination of female die means provided with a longitudinalcavity and with 9. lat-- eral defining cavity, hollow mandrel meansprovided with a lateral determinative orifice located in correspondenceto said lateral defining cavity, said hollow mandrel means and thelongitudinal cavity of said female die means being arranged relative toone another to fiuid-sealingly receive therebetween a length of tubularmass, and mutually spaced hollow means fluid-sealingly correlated tosaid hollow mandrel means and the walls of the longitudinal cavity ofsaid female die means, and fiuid means within the interior of saidhollow mandrel means, whereby upon application of force through saidmutually spaced hollow means pressure endwise in opposing direction isexerted upon said tubular mass effecting the flow of the material ofsaid length of tubular mass toward said lateral defining cavity of thefemale diemeans, whereby a lateral is formed and defined in wall contourby said lateral defining die cavity integral with the body of thefitting.

2. The combination of female die means provided with a longitudinalcavity and with 9. lateral defining cavity, hollow mandrel meansprovided with a lateral determinative orifice located in correspondenceto said lateral defining cavity, said hollow mandrel means and thelongitudinal cavity of said female die means being arranged relative toone another to fiuid-sealingly receive therebetween a length of tubularmass, mutually spaced hollow means fiuid-sealingly correlated to saidhollow mandrel means and to the walls of the longitudinal cavity of saidfemale die means, fiuid means within the interior of said hollow mandrelmeans and means for applying force upon said hollow means to transmitbodily pressure endwise in opposing direction upon said tubular masstoward said lateral defining cavity and conjointly transmit fiuidpressure through its said lateral determinative orifice of said hollowmandrel means upon the wall of said tubular mass in direction toward andinto said lateral defining cavity, said hollow means comprising punchesrespectively disposed in opposing relation to said tubular mass in thelongitudinal cavity of said female die means, said punches beingprovided with an opening for the passage of the fluid. a

3. The method of producing a cold worked wholly integrallateral-provided fitting of material of the nature of copper, whichcomprises providing a length of tubular blank of such material,providing a hollow mandrel having a lateral determinative orifice, andotherwise imperforate from end to end, and having a substantiallyuniform periphery, and a length at least the length of said tubularblank, and an external diameter substantially the same as the internaldiameter of the blank, assembling said hollow mandrel within said lengthof tubular blank, positioning the thus assembled hollow mandrel andlength I of tubular blank within a suitable die provided with a lateraldefining cavity, locating said lateral determinative orifice of thehollow mandrel in alignment with the lateral defining cavity of the die.providing suitable fluid medium within the interior of said hollowmandrel, and subjecting said length of tubular blank to pressure endwiseof the blank and conjoint fluid pressure internally oi the tubularblank.-whereby a lateral is formed and defined in wall contour by saidlateral defining die cavity integral with the body oi the fitting. f"

4. The mcthod -j i'or producing a cold worked wholly integrallateral-provided fitting of material of the natureof copper, whichcomprises providing ailength of circular tubular blank of such material,providing a hollow mandrel having a lateral determinative orifice, andotherwise imperforate from end to end and having a substantially uniformdiameter, and a length at least the length of said tubular blank, and anexternal diameter substantially the same as the internal diameter of theblank, assembling said hollow mandrel within said length of tubularblank. positioning the thus assembled hollow mandrel and length ofcircular tubular blank within a suitable die provided with a lateraldefining cavity and locating said lateral determinative orifice of thehollow mandrel in alignmcntwith the lateral defining cavity of the die,providing suitable fluid medium within the interior of said hollowmandrel, and subjecting said length of circular tubular blank topressure endwise of the blank and conjoint fluid pressure internally ofthe tubular blank by instrumentalities physically engaging the opposingends of the blank, whereby 9. lateral is formed and defined in wallcontour by said lateral defining die cavity integral with the body ofthe fitting.

' 5. The combination of female die means provided with a longitudinalcavity and with a lateral defining cavity, hollow mandrelmeans providedwith a lateral determinative orifice located in correspondence to saidlateral defining cavity, said hollow mandrel means and the longitudinalcavity of said female die means being arranged relative to one anotherto receive therebetween fiuid-sealingly a length of tubular mass,mutually spaced hollow means fiuid-sealingly correlated to said hollowmandrel means and to the walls of the longitudinal cavity of said'female die means, fluid means within the interior of said hollow.mandrel. and means for applying force upon said hollow means totransmit bodily pressure endwise in opposing direction upon said tubularmass toward said lateral defining cavity and conjointly 'transmit fluidpressure through the said orificeupon the wall of said tubular mass indirection toward and into said lateral defining cavity.

6. The combination of female die means provided with alongitudinalcavity and with a lateral defining cavity, hollow mandrelmeans provided with a" lateral determining orifice located incorrespondence to said lateral defining cavity,

. said hollow mandrel-means and the longitudinal cavity of said femaledie means being arranged relative to one another to receive therebetweenfiuid-sealingly a length of tubular mass, mutually spaced hollow meansfiuid-sealingly corre-. lated to said hollow mandrel means and to thewalls of the longitudinal cavity of said female die means and to suchlength of tubular mass, fluid means within the interior of said hollowmandrel. and means for applying force upon said hollow means to transmitbodily pressure endwise in opposing direction upon such tubular masstoward said lateral defining cavity and conlointly transmit fluidpressure through the said orifice upon the wall of such tubular mass indirection toward and into said lateral defining cavity.

7. The method of producing a cold worked wholly integrallateral-provided fitting of material of the nature of copper, whichcomprises providing a length of tubular blank of such material.providing a hollow mandrel having a substantially uniform diametersubstantially the same as the internal diameter of the blank and alength at least the length of said tubular blank, said hollow mandrelhaving a lateral determinative orifice and being otherwise imperforateover a length at least equal to the length of said tubular blank,assembling said hollow mandrel in fluidseal relation to and within saidlength of tubular blank, positioning the thus assembled hollow mandreland length oi tubular blank within a suitable die provided with alateral defining cavity and locating said lateral determinative orificeof the hollow mandrel in alignment with the lateral defining cavity ofthe die, providing suitable fluid medium within the interior of saidhollow mandrel and subjecting said length of tubular blank to endwisepressure in opposing directions and simultaneously to pressureinternally of the tubular blank by instrumentalities physically engagingthe opposing ends of the blank and fluidsealingly related to the thusassembled hollow mandrel and length of tubular blank, whereby a lateralis formed and defined in wall contour by said lateral defining diecavity integral with the body of the fitting.

8. The method of producing a cold worked wholly integrallateral-provided fitting of material of the nature of copper, whichcomprises pro- "viding a length of tubular blank of such matehollowmandrel and length of tubular blank within a suitable die provided witha lateral defining cavity and locating said lateral determinativeorifice of the hollow mandrel in alignment with the lateral definingcavity-of the die, providing suitable fiuid medium within the interiorof said hollow mandrel, subjecting said length of tubular blank topressure endwise of the blank and conjoint fiuid pressure internally ofthe tubular blank, whereby a lateral is formed and defined in wallcontour by said lateral defining die cavity integral with the body ofthe fitting, and severing the thus formed dome to provide an opening forthe lateral.

EDWARD S. CORNELL, JR.

